Moonlight Whispers and Crimson Warnings

The final notes of the music faded like a dream.

Kai and Yuhi stepped apart, their hands slipping free with a hesitation neither dared to show. The ballroom erupted into polite applause, but to them, it felt distant—muffled beneath the echo of their shared heartbeat.

Emma clapped from the side.

William wore a grin.

Boros wiped a tear from his eye. "That was beautiful," he said mockingly. "I think I saw the heavens open."

Kai walked back silently, his face unreadable. But Yuhi didn't miss the tiny smile playing at the corner of his lips.

She watched him, her own cheeks touched with warmth.

---

Boros threw an arm around Kai's shoulder and slapped it hard. "You're good at this, Dark Knight. That was smooth."

Kai gave a faint smirk. "Thanks."

William leaned in. "Superb, Alen. That didn't feel like your first time dancing."

Kai replied, "It wasn't. My best friend taught me how to dance... years ago."

Lucious clapped his hands. "Alright, alright. Enough talk. Let's eat before everything goes cold."

Laughter echoed again, and the group moved to the grand banquet table.

As the night wore on, the celebration gradually dimmed. Guests returned to their chambers. Laughter faded into yawns. The guards and warriors settled into the army quarters for rest.

But not Kai..

He remained outside, standing alone under the pale moonlight that bathed the royal courtyard in silver. His coat fluttered softly with the wind, and his gaze was fixed on the sky—serene, yet heavy with thought.

Far above, behind a grand window of the palace, Yuhi stood in silence.

Her hands rested against the glass, eyes locked onto the lonely figure beneath the stars.

She didn't call out.

Yuhi continued staring at him.

Even from this distance, she could feel it — the quiet strength in Kai's presence, the way he stood under the moonlight as if he belonged to it.

Her fingers curled slightly against the glass.

What is this feeling?

Her chest tightened. Her cheeks flushed pink once again.

And then it hit her — the realization.

I'm falling in love with him.

Flustered, she gasped softly and backed away from the window, her heart racing. She quickly shut it and turned away, hiding her face behind her hands. The warmth in her cheeks refused to fade.

Throwing herself onto the soft cushions of her royal bed, she buried her face into them, trying to calm down.

But something else caught her attention — a faint red glow from the nearby table.

The red book.

Her eyes widened.

The same book Lucious had given her… the one he found within the ruins of Utopiya Palace after their deadly battle. At the time, she had asked for it — sensing its strange presence.

Now, the glow pulsed gently… as if calling to her.

Outside, under the cold moonlight, Kai remained still.

His eyes reflected the stars, but his mind wandered far into the past.

He raised his head, voice soft and low. "Hey, bro…"

A pause.

"I took your revenge from Alexa. She's gone now."

The night wind whispered around him.

"I'm sorry… I couldn't save you. And still… in your last moments, you only thought about me."

He closed his eyes.

A flicker of pain crossed his face — a rare crack in the heart of the Dark Knight.

"But I promise… I'll carry your will. I won't let your sacrifice be in vain."

The sun rose gently over Victoria Palace, casting a golden

Yuhi glanced around, then turned to Boros.

"Where is Alen?"

Boros shrugged casually. "Maybe he already left for Lumiya last night.

Yuhi gave a light sigh. "Alright then."

She turned toward King Advert White, her voice clear and respectful.

"Your Majesty, we're ready to return to Lumiya. Our mission here is complete."

King Advert nodded slowly, his expression warm. "You have my deepest gratitude, Princess Yuhi. Lumiya's strength and support will never be forgotten."

He gestured, and a small box was brought forward by a royal guard.

"This is my personal gift," King Advert continued, "for King Godfrey of Lumiya. Please deliver it with my respect and friendship."

Yuhi accepted the gift with both hands and bowed her head. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The silver gates of Lumiya swung open as Princess Yuhi, Lucious Fang, and the Lumiya warriors entered the grand capital. Trumpets sounded from the palace walls, and the streets came alive with cheer.

Civilians lined the roads, waving flags and tossing petals, shouting:

"Welcome home, warriors of Lumiya!"

Yuhi offered a warm smile, riding steadily at the front. Behind her, the knights and soldiers soaked in the applause, pride in their eyes.

As they reached the palace square:

The warriors split off toward the Guild Hall, ready to claim their rewards.

The Royal Knights returned to their chambers for debriefing and rest.

Yuhi, still in her travel cloak, dismounted and walked directly into the Lumiya Royal Palace.

She made her way through the quiet halls, arriving at a familiar door.

Aries's room.

She pushed the door open slowly. "Aries…?"

Silence.

But before she could take another step, a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind.

"Welcome back, Princess Yuhi," came a soft voice near her ear — Aries, the Royal Mage, his signature lavender robe brushing against her.

Yuhi smiled lightly. "Thank you, my Royal Mage… but I came with a task for you."

Aries raised a brow, stepping in front of her. "What is it?"

Yuhi reached into her cloak and pulled out the red book, the one Lucious Fang had retrieved from the Utopiya Palace ruins.

"I've tried to open it. But… it's protected. Some kind of strong magical seal is binding it shut."

She extended the book toward Aries.

"Can you break the seal?"

Aries gently took the book, his expression shifting to something more serious.

"I'll do my best."

Yuhi's voice turned serious as she watched Aries examine the sealed book.

"Aries," she said, stepping closer. "I have one more question."

she looked up, sensing the shift in her tone.

"I checked the whole palace... but I couldn't find my father, King Godfrey, or your father, Edward Hawk. Where are they?"

She paused,

"And… when I entered the kingdom, I could feel it. The entire magical defense barrier around Lumiya — it's stronger than normal. Like it's expecting something."

"Is something going on here? What are you hiding from me?"

Aries sighed and put the book on table gently, his gaze darkening.

"You're right, Princess. Something is happening."

she stepped away from the table and walked toward the window, looking out at the horizon.

"While you were in Victoria, my father — Edward Hawk — traveled to the Northern Territory. There were reports of strange activity… and potential vampire movements."

Yuhi's eyes widened. "Vampires…? like liza"

Aries nodded.

"There, he discovered something terrifying — a message left in blood,

she turned back toward her, voice grim.

"Edric Bloodworth. The Vampire King."

Aries continued. "He's planning an attack. On Lumiya. On the night of the Red Moon."

Yuhi's lips parted slightly, stunned. "That's… only three days from now."

Aries gave a single nod.

King Godfrey, and Dad have gone to check lumiya situation to prepare our front lines.

A heavy silence filled the room.

Then Yuhi spoke, her voice steady despite the weight of the revelation.

"Then we don't have time to waste."